Trunk-harness tightener.



PATENTED MAY 26, 1908 G. M. POWERS.

TRUNK HARNESS TIGHTENBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 2. 1907.`

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

/NVENTOH .Eyman/0 ATTORNEYS THE Hemus FETERS co., wAsmNaToN.-D, E.

No. 889,042. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

' I G. M. POWERS.'

TRUNK HARNESS TIGHTENER.

APPLICATION IILED un. z. Iso?.

2 SHEETSf-SHBET 2.

W/TNESSES /NVENTO/ 1HE Nan/us PETERS cn., wAsHmsmN. D. c.

GUY MURRAY POWERS, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

TRUNK-HARNESS TIGHTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed March 2, 1907. Serial No. 360,130.

Patented May 26, 1908.

To all whom Lt may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY MURRAY PowERs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State ofOregon, have invented a new and lmproved Trunk-Harness Tightener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to trunk harnesses such as are placed on trunks to prevent their being broken open when thrown about by baggage men.

The invention concerns itself with the construction of the tightener by means of which the harness may be drawn tight upon the trunk.

The object of the invention is to produce an apparatus whereby a small force may be exerted so advantageously that a person of little strength can readily apply the harness and tighten the same in position.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing how the device is applied in practice; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the tightening device, certain parts being broken away and shown in section; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal centralv section through the tightener, showing the same in a closed position g this view is taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but representing the tightener in an open position; Fig. 5 is a section taken at the side of the tightener and illustrating details of its construction; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a plan showing a portion of the device in detail; and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the spindle of the device, the strap wound thereupon being shown in cross section.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the harness of the' trunk, it is preferably formed of rope, metal sash cord or similar material applied to the trunk 2 as indicated in Fig. 1. This rope is in a continuous piece and comprises two longitudinally extending runs 3 and two transversely extending runs 4. These runs 3 and 4 are ex- Apawls 19, for a purpose tended upwardly at the corners of the trunk so as to form loops 5 which rest upon the cover of the trunk at the corners thereof as shown. From this arrangement it should be understood that the runs 3 and 4 of the rope are crossed upon the bottom, while the loops 5 are in a position to be drawn tightly together so as to hold the harness securely upon the trunk. At their upper portions, the loo s 5 are connected by a band or girth 6, of ight material such as metal sash cord or rope, which passes continuously around the trunk and is attached by means of small cords to the loops at the sides ofthe trunk, as indicated. On the loo s 5 l provide sleeves 7 through which theloops pass freely, as shown, and to the sleeves 7 at one end of the trunk, a bridle 8 is attached, and a similar bridle 9 is provided at the other end of the trunk attached to the sleeves at that end. Between the bridles S and 9 l providea tightening device 10, the construction of which will now be described.

Referring especially to Figs. 3 and 4, this tightening device comprises a body 11 consisting of an elongated shank 12, one extremity whereof is bent upwardly to form a hook 13, as shown. The other end of this shank is bent upwardly and bolted to a U-shaped guide head 14. This guide head is in the form of a fork having two oppositely disposed prongs 15, which are formed at their upper and lower faces with inwardly projecting flanges 16, so that a guide channel or groove is formed therebetween. Between the prongs 15 a cross head 17 is guided, the ends of the cross head being bent to form forwardly projecting fingers 1S, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. At their forward extremitiesthese iingers 1S are formed with teeth or which will appear more fully hereinafter. From the body of the cross head 17 a stem 20 passes through the head 14, the end of this stem beyond the head being bent laterally so as to form a handle 21. This handle normally lies against the curved side of the head at this point, as indicated in Fig` 7. On each side of the stem 20 l provide helical springs 22 which tend to force the cross head 17 in the direction of a spindle 23. The construction of this spindle is very clearly shown in Fig. 8; it comprises a cylindrical body 24 formed between collars 25, and beyond these collars necks 26 are rovided. These necks 26 are formed with Ibngitudinally disposed teeth 27, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4.

In the ends ofthe prongs 15 op )ositely disposed openings 28 are providedl, which receive the necks 26 rotatably. In this way the springs 22 normally operate to hold the pawls 19 in engagement with the teeth of the necks 26, so that the awls may prevent the rotation of the spind e except in one direction. The necks 26 project beyond the prongs 15.

I provide a lever 29, one portion whereof is formed with a handle 30, and this handle is formed with prongs 31 which are rotatably mounted upon the necks 26, as indicated at the lower portion of Fig. 4. Between the prongs 31 there is guided a yoke 32, which is adapted to slide toward or away from the spindle 23. This yoke is of U form so as to conform substantially to the outline of the head 14 aforesaid. The ends of the prongs 33 of the yoke are formed into pawls 34, which are adapted to engage the teeth 27 like the pawls 19. In the side walls of the handle 30 oppositely disposed slots 35 are provided. In the ends of these slots adjacent to the spindle 23, a transverse locking bolt 36 is provided, and between this bolt and the yoke 32 a helical spring 37 is placed. In the other ends ofthe slots a transverse bolt 3S is placed, which is similar to the bolt 36, and between this bolt and the end of the handle a helical spring 39 is received, as shown. The bolts 36 and 38 are provided with heads 40 on their outer sides, which normally rest substantially against each other, as shown.

At a point on the shank 12.lying between the bolts 36 and 33, I provide a keeper 41, which simply consists of a stud 42 projecting upwardly from the shank, and having notches 43 formed on opposite sides thereof. These notches are adapted to be engaged by the bolts 36 and 33 respectively so as to look the lever 29 in the position shown in Fig. 3. On the body or wrist 24 of the spindle 23, a strap 44 is mounted, as shown, and the opposite end of this strap is attached to the bridle 9 in any suitable manner. The hook 13 is attached to the bridle S.

The manner of using the strap tightener to tighten the harness, will now be described. I/Vith the handle 29 in an elevated position, as indicated in Fig. 4, force is exerted upon the lever 29 tending to fold it down upon the body of the device. As this takes place, the pawls 34 engage with the teeth of the necks 26 and tend to rotate the spindle 23 in a direction to tighten the strap 44. As the spindle rotates in the manner suggested, the pawls 19 engage with the teeth and prevent a backward rotation of the spindle. In this Way the pawls 19 operate as detent pawls. In this manner the lever 29 may be swung to and fro upon the spindle untilthe slack of the i strap is substantially taken up and the hare ness is pulled tight. The handle is then 4 forced down upon the body of the tightener, and in so doing, the upper end of the keeper 41, which is formed with a head having inclined side faces 45, engages with the bolts 36 and 38 and forces the same apart so that they may engage the notches 43 in thekeeper. In this way the lever becomes securely locked to the body of the strap tightener. When it is desired to unlock the lever 29, this can be accomplished by seizing the heads 40 of the bolts and forcing the bolts apart, compressing the springs 37 and 39 respectively. lVhe-n it is desired to release the spindle from the detent pawls 19, this can be accomplished by rotating the stem 20 in the cross head 17 until it comes into the position shown in Fig. 4, and in dotted lines in Fig. 7. At this time the handle 21 is moved up into a vertical position so that the upper end of the handle engages the forward side of the head 14 at or near the axis of the head. In this way the cross head becomes drawn away from the spindle and the pawls 19 are disengaged from its teeth. The mechanism carried in the lever 29 is hidden from view by a cover plate 46.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a tightening device, in combination,

spindle rotatably mounted in said prongs and having a wrist adapted to have a strap coiled thereupon, said spindle having teeth, a cross head mounted between said prongs and formed at its -extremities with detent pawls engaging said teeth, a handle pivotally mounted on said spindle, a yoke carried in said handle and having pawls engaging said teeth to rotate said spindle when said handle swings, and means for locking said handle to said body.

2. A strap tightener comprising, in combination, a body having a substantially U- shaped head presenting oppositely disposed prongs, a 'cross head slidably mounted between said prongs, a spindle rotatably mounted in said forks and having ratchet teeth formed thereupon, said cross head having detent pawls formed thereupon engaging said ratchet teeth, means for normally pressing said cross head toward said spindle, a lever rotatably mounted on said spindle, a member slidably mounted on said lever and having pawls engaging said ratchet teeth, means for normally pressing said member toward said spindle, and means for locking said handle to said body, said body having a shank disposed opposite to said head and having a hook, said spindle having a Wrist for coiling a strap thereupon.

3. In a strap tightener, in combination, a body having a head with oppositely disposed prongs, a spindle rotatably mounted in said a body having oppositely disposed prongs, a4

prongs and having ratchet teeth, a cross head slidably mounted between said prongs and having detent awls formed at the -ends thereof adapte to engage said teeth, a spring between said head and said cross head and forcing said cross head toward said spindle, means for locking said cross head in a withdrawn position to disengage said pawls from said teeth, a handle having prongs rotatably mounted in said spindle, a yoke slidably mounted between said last prongs and having pawls engaging said ratchet teeth, a spring pressing said yoke toward said spindle, means for locking Isaid handle to said body, said body having means at the end thereof opposite to said spindle for engaging a loop, and a wrist formed on said spindle adapted to have a strap coiled thereupon.

4. A strap tightener comprising, in combination, a body having a head and a shank extending therefrom, said head having oppositely disposed prongs, a cross head guided between said prongs, a spindle rotatably mounted in said forks andv having ratchet teeth, said cross -head having pawls formed at the end thereof and engaging said teeth, a stem rotatably mounted in said cross head and said head, springs forcing said cross head toward said spindle, said s'tem having a handle formed thereupon adapted to lie against the side of said head and affording means for withdrawing said cross head from said spindle when said stem is rotated, a lever having prongs rotatably mounted on said spindle, a yoke guided between said last prongs and having pawls adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, and means for locking said handle to said shank, said spindle having a wrist adapted to receive a strap.

5. A strap tightener comprising, in combination, a body having'a shank and a head extending therefrom, said head having oppositely disposed prongs, a spindle rotatably mounted in said prongs, having ratchet teeth thereupon, said spindle further having a wrist between said prongs adapted to have a strap coiled thereabout, a cross head guided between said prongs andv having pawls adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, springs tending to force said cross head toward said spindle, means for locking said cross head to said head out of engagement with said spindle, a lever having prongs rotatably mounted on said spindle, a yoke guided between said last prongs and having pawls adapted to engage said teeth, said lever having guide slots formed in the side walls thereof, a transverse bolt running in said slots, a spring disposed between said bolt and said yoke and affording means for forcing said yoke toward said spindle, a keeper on said shank adapted to be engaged by said bolt to lock said lever to said body, and means formed on said shank for making attachment thereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUY MURRAY POWERS.

Witnesses:

G. F. BIXBY, AMELIA S. POWERS. 

